Analysis Of The Movie Overlord - 925 Words

Overlord, a film with an interesting blend of historic footage and acting, does not present a heroic view of World War Two. This film portrays a pessimistic view of the war using documentary footage, as well as showing an ordinary soldier who died too young. Alongside this, at the time anti-war sentiment was on the rise and the memory of World War Two was being reshaped. The usage of documentary footage in the film gives the audience a real view as to what happened during the D-Day invasions. Cooper portrays this particular aspect of the war in a negative light. Starting off, the footage that is shown is simple arial footage of France before mass damage has taken place. Then as the film progressed the footage that was shown grew darker. The audience begins to take in images of planes bombing or shooting targets. Boats are sunk, trains are derailed, other planes are taken out of the sky, and cars are engulfed in smoke. As well, footage of the devastation of the bombing of villages is shown. Stores and homes are engulfed in flames, ruins of villages that once stood. The films even displays footage of a bomb being dropped and the shockwave is clearly visible giving the audience a sense of how powerful the ammunition being dropped was. All of this footage shows the death and destruction associated with D-Day. The decision to include this footage instea d of something that would make the audience sympathize with the soldiers, or even show the happier moments that the soldiersShow MoreRelated Saving Private Ryan Essay1053 Words   |  5 Pagesmany were still sick. Having the landing shot at dawn and when the tide was out produced an invaluable sense of reality for the following graphical scenes. Soldiers were able to take cover behind the heavy timbers because the tide was out. Operation Overlord (D-Day) called for the invasion to take place â€Å"as close to low tide as possible so that most of the German obstacles and mines could be seen† . Saving Private Ryan represented both the feelings of U.S. soldiers and the beach landing realisticallyRead MoreFinal Essay, Intro to Film Eng 2252743 Words   |  11 PagesAn Analysis of the film Gone With the Wind Catherine M. Piraino ENG 225 INRO TO FILM Instructor Pal December 17, 2012 An Analysis of the film Gone with the Wind Rarely has a film impacted an audience and held the test of time as the film Gone with the Wind. I have always been curious if director, Victor Fleming and producer, David O. Selznick and screenplay writer, Sidney Howard knew what they were creating a masterpiece and how this film would have such an enormous impact on audiencesRead MoreComcast : A Dominant Theme4697 Words   |  19 Pagesresponded to streaming with Streampix. Steampix was developed as a way to keep up with HULU and Netflix, it was an effort to cater to the younger generation who utilized streaming rather than watching TV traditionally. SWOT ANALYSIS (Please see Addendum A) Looking at the SWOT analysis, it is very evident that Comcast has many strengths when it comes to providing customers with the most for their money. Perhaps their largest strength is that they bundle Internet, TV, telephone service and recently homeRead More Columbus and the New World Discovery Essay4487 Words   |  18 Pagesnovelist Hans Koning finds him worse than Attila the Hun. Last year on Columbus Fay protesters in Washington poured fake blood on the Union Station statue of Columbus. Marlon Brando recently demanded that his name be removed from the credits of the new movie, Christopher Columbus: The Discovery, on the ground that the film failed to portray Columbus as the true villain he was, the man directly responsible for the first wave of genocidal obliteration of the native peoples of North America. (BrandosRead MoreThe Internal Reasons for Nokias Failure7405 Words   |  30 Pagesprocess, Nokia has underwent several successful business transformation: from paper product ion, to rubber production, to electric cable production, and at last to present mobile phone production. In the 90th of last century, Nokia defeated the old overlord--Motorola successfully through constant introduction of new products in the digital era, strong brand power, and stationery marketing mode. Nevertheless, under the inevitable trend of mobile internet, it fades away in people’s vision, and fails againRead MoreMonsanto: Better Living Through Genetic Engineering96204 Words   |  385 Pages441 441 CASE STUDIES A summary of the case analysis I N T R O D U C T I O N Preparing an effective case analysis: The full story Hearing with the aid of implanted technology: The case of Cochlearâ„ ¢ – an Australian C A S E O N E high-technology leader Delta Faucet: Global entrepreneurship in an emerging market C A S E T W O DaimlerChrysler: Corporate governance dynamics in a global company C A S E T H R E E Gunns and the greens: Governance issues in Tasmania C A S E F O U R Succeeding in the

Religion, Spirituality, Faith, And Perceptions About...

Religion is a guideline for social conduct; additionally one may conclude of the gospel, and superstitious practices are the closest perceptible occurrence humans can term ‘magic. There are several definitions of the word religion because no one seems concise. One proper definition, according to Merriam-Webster, is â€Å"Religion is a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices† (Merriam-Webster, 2015). One might think that this distinguishing definition is most suitable for the purpose of this assignment. This paper will discuss the interviews of three different people who associate themselves with a particular religion. Hiawatha Macomb, Maxine Hawthorne, and Christian X will answer questions about their beliefs concerning religion, spirituality, faith, and perceptions about religion. In brief, the participants will have honest discussions about their beliefs in God and the supernatural. First of all, the paper will begin with Hiawatha Macomb because Mr. Hiawatha’s parents are both Senior Pastors of a large historical church. One might think that because of Mr. Hiawatha’s parents, and upbringing that he would be deeply religious. Hiawatha considers himself a spiritual person and considers calling him ‘religious’ insulting. An analysis from the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion Public Life confirms a decline in religious adherence among American adults and increase in secular world-views. (Pew Research Center, 2012).Show MoreRelatedThe Use Of Art, Sculptures And Architecture1559 Words   |  7 Pagesthey think about Michelangelo, Van Gogh, or Picasso. But, religion has a great influence on the art scene. Religions use art to emphasise their faith and its importance. Christianity art is solely based upon Jesus, his followers and saints. Throughout history Christian art has been connected to mainstream idea of art. However, ther e are several other religions that demonstrate their faith through art, sculptures, and architecture. Aboriginal spirituality solely bases the art off the faith. InsteadRead MoreThe Theory Of Religion And Spirituality1481 Words   |  6 PagesA Gallup poll indicated that religion is a â€Å"very important† part of the lives of approximately 67% of the American public, of whom 96% believe in God and 42% attend religious services regularly (Powell, Shahabi, Thoresen, 2003). People join religious institutions and follow spiritual paths for a variety of reasons, such as faith, prayer, social support, cultural traditions, commitment to the community, and more. The role of religion in people’s lives is dramatic and research on the topic has mirroredRead More`` Heaven Is For Real ``933 Words   |  4 Pagescontinued telling them things about Jesus, God, and heaven that he couldn t possibly have known at his young age. He describes the heavenly thrones, the triune God, and angels. Colton says he met a sister he never knew he had. It was a child that Sonja had miscarried. He even knew all about Pop, Todd s grandfather, who had died long before the boy was born. Todd is amazed at how his son descriptions match up with passages from the Holy Bible that the child knew nothing about. At one point he even identifiesRead MorePersonal Worldview Inventory. A â€Å"Worldview† Is The Term1231 Words   |  5 Pagescan be determined by religion (Grand Canyon University [GCU], 2015) or by family customs; therefore, individual’s worldview is something that was not developed over night. It is something the person has learned and believed to be true their whole life which direct the way they think, see the world around them and make decisions. With the different view and mindsets of individuals, it is complicated to make everyone happy and this can create tension between science and religion. 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According to Koenig (1989), religion incorporates people’s rituals, beliefs, and practices pertaining to theRead MoreThe Spiritual Factor Of African American Males Attending A White Christian Institutions1359 Words   |  6 Pages The Spiritual Factor: Examining the role spirituality plays in the development of African American Males attending Predominately White Christian Institutions Abstract This study examined the role that spirituality plays in the development of African American males who attend predominately white Christian institutions (PCIs). This hermeneutic phenomenological study focused on Christian college students who were African American males ages 18-21 and identified as evangelical Christian. FindingsRead MoreThe Role Of Spiritual Development On College Students Essay1569 Words   |  7 Pagesuncomfortable and questions their own beliefs. If they are unsure of where there stand in their spiritual beliefs that may cause them to feel separated from the community. However, being in a religious environment where they can relate to the dominant religion and they feel comfortable can have a positive effect on their well-being. Leadership skills Longman and Lafreniere (2012) suggest that gaining the necessary leadership skills is an important aspects of being involved in diverse programs and beingRead MoreSpiritual Wellbeing : An Integral Part Of Mental, Emotional And Physical Health965 Words   |  4 PagesProject: Spiritual Wellbeing Spiritual wellbeing is an integral part of mental, emotional and physical health. It is considered to be a primary coping resource on the journey of recovering and healing. Spiritual wellbeing can also be associated with religion but does not have to be. It is considered to be a journey to find importance in life and the role you will play among them with the overarching purpose to find meaning to life. While researching measures of spiritual wellbeing I came across The SpiritualRead MoreBuddhism, Religion, And Religion1155 Words   |  5 PagesMany wars have been fought based on religion. Countless Disputes, debates, and lives. But, there is one religion that doesn t concern wars, or even violence. Buddhism. The question buddhism, is it a religion a philosophy has been raised so many times before, Indeed, Buddhism can be seen within an open secret of the past two decades, in which it s played no small part: namely, more and more people are finding personal connection to the sacred, lifted up out of and beyond the Sunday pews, madeRead MoreQuestions On Substance Abuse Disorder1370 Words   |  6 PagesMany people mistake Spirituality for Religion or some supernatural, mysterious occurrence. Large amounts of people think of it as a cult due to their lack of knowledge and their fear of being manipulated. There are seven differences between Spirituality and Religion that will help one understand what spirituality actually is (Davchevske, D. 2014). I will identify the transactions someone with substance abuse disorder should follow in order to rekindle their Spirituality through a recovery process

Principles of personal devlpment free essay sample

Data protection act Freedom of information act 1995 Aii) Human rights act Disability discrimination act 1995 Aiii) Human rights act Control of substances hazardous to health regulations 2002 Aiv) Care standards act 2000 Code of practice Av) Safeguarding vulnerable adults groups act 2006 Policies and procedures Avi) A PDP is a personal development plan and is done between you and your manager. They will record all information about your learning and development needs in work. Things like targets, agreed objectives and activities to meet them and standards that are required. These all build your own appraisal. Avii) Carers, members of staff that work with you. The individuals you care for and their family Supervisor, manager. Task B Case study Bi) Jenna must make sure that she respects other people’s beliefs even though they may be different to her own. She must go about this in a non-judgmental way. She should also read through people’s care plans to gain better knowledge of them and their needs. We will write a custom essay sample on Principles of personal devlpment or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page I also think Jenna should put her own beliefs to one side and then discuss with her boss any issues she may have. It is essential for carers to respect each and every individual as an individual, not letting anything affect this. Maybe she should also look back on how she has spoken to the service user and make sure she doesn’t come across as rude or nasty in the future. Bii) It is very important to reflect on your work activities as it’s a very good way to develop skills and make sure you understand everything. It will also give you chance to plan how you are going to behave if the situation happens again. You can make changes and improve the way you work, it is also very important to reflect on your own behaviour and see how it affects others. During these reflections it’s a very good time to find the help and support you may need to better the way you work. E. g. training sessions. When working in care it is important that you learn to think about your own practice in a constructive way. Reflection and evaluation should not undermine your confidence but you should use them in a constructive way to identify areas for improvement. Ci) Moving and handling course – training session Knowing how to safely move a resident e. g. hoist. Skills – risk assessment is needed for each person, which sling is safe etc. do they need a hoist. We need to know the risks because if the manoeuvre is not completed properly this can cause falls and accidents. Cii) During my senior training I received feedback during my senior training, on how to do peg feeds safely and effectively. My first time, I didn’t happen to flush enough water, so my assessor informed me of this, which then improved my skill as a senior to do my job role properly. I then had then knowledge and skills to improve my work role.

The Machine free essay sample

â€Å"Many things catch your eye, pursue only those that catch your heart.† These words come back to me as I listened to the purr of an engine.The type of deep rumbling that makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand straight up. The sound of a beautiful, well oiled, shiny machine. When I turned around I saw her sitting there gleaming in the sun.Sleek and shining, she looked like she came off the assembly line just yesterday. A 1964 Chevrolet Impala. I could see my twelve year old self, and my look of total awe, reflecting back at me off of her gleaming chrome. Reflecting off her freshly polished light blue surface, the sun seemed to make the magnificent machine glow. The hood was up exposing the chrome plated double header engine. The driver applied pressure to the gas pedal, bringing another deep purr from the motor and I watched in amazement as the engine jumped. We will write a custom essay sample on The Machine or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The sound it made was one of 500 horsepower, of freedom, of raw untamed power. It gave me chills. Blowing around us, the air carried the scent of hot rubber and fresh upholstery to my nostrils, as the driver opened the door and stepped out. The hot summer sun heated everything around us, and the air carried the sounds of the car show around us, but my eyes were glued to this car in front of me. The owner, an older gentleman with white hair, blue eyes and a smile that stretched from ear to ear, walked over to me and my dad. He a head and a half taller than I but he looked me directly in the eyes while, introducing himself. â€Å"Names Jeff,† he said with a voice almost as deep as the rumble of the car he owned, â€Å"pleasure to meet cha’† he held out his hand and I took it introducing myself. His hand was rough and calloused with a firm grip, but not so hard as to hurt. All the while that smile of his never left his face. After introductions had been made, Jeff and my dad began talking about the car and other things. While they spoke I circled the car, admiring every glint and glimmer the sun made on her shining surface.After circling two or three times, I stopped next to the open driver’s side door and looked in at the tan leather seats.Jeff saw me looking in and stepped over. â€Å"Well, I’ll let you sit in the driver’s seat if you promise not to take off with ‘er.† He said laughing a deep booming laugh. I laughed as well, promising not too, and slid in behind the wheel. The steering wheel and eight ball shifter were warm under my hands. The scent of fresh leather filled my nostrils. After a while of sitting there enjoying the sensations I got out and walked around to the hood. Jeff followed, pointing out the different parts, and explained to me what each one did. I listened intently the whole time.Eventually he covered everything and we stepped back. With a sigh J eff said â€Å"I’ve owned this here car since I was sixteen. It took me three years to fix ‘er up and another two to fully restore ‘er. She was jus’ a frame rotting in someone’s yard when I found ‘er.†I looked from him to the car and back in disbelief. Jeff only smiled and nodded. It was at that moment staring at that beautiful machine that I realized that is what I wanted to do. I want to fix, rebuild, restore, and work on cars. For the rest of my life. My passion is working on these beautiful machines.

Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock Essay Example

Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock Essay Example Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock Paper Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock Paper Essay Topic: The Love Song Of J alfred Prufrock T. S. Elliot, the speaker is Froufrou himself. He is debating with the two conflicting sides of his personality. One wants him to propose love, the other wants him to hold back. The setting Is most likely In the early asses or so, taking Into consideration the afternoon tea, the shawls the ladles wear, and the skirts that trail along the floor(102). The situation Is fairly straightforward In some respects. Alfred Froufrou is on his way to a tea In the mid-afternoon and Is indecisive as to whether he should declare his love or not. Figurative language is cost abundant in this poem. Throughout, parts of the city are personified as being human while Froufrou is personified as being less than human. The yellow fog and the sky which is like a patient appear intelligent to the reader of the poem. On the other hand, Froufrou thinks of himself as a crab which should be scuttling across the floor of the sea or a senile old man who wears flannel trousers. This evidence the city and nature which are the yellow fog and the sky are taking mastery over Froufrou. They have become king. The phrase, But as If a magic lantern threw the nerves In tatters on the screen(105) has thematic Importance as well. A magic lantern Is a movie projector; hence, Froufrou is viewing his life and thought as a movie with a predetermined end. This predetermined end Is that his love would not Like him and that he would fall In his proposal of love. Irony exists In the title, for this poem Is not a livelong but rather a piece mourning a mans fear to propose love. Nearly all of Frocks allusions are overstatement. He speaks of himself as one decapitated and one absolutely banned from telling his story of love. This, however, is not the case as Froufrous only limitation is himself. Before moving on, it is imperative that a precise view of J. Alfred Froufrous personality be extrapolated. First of all, Frock is in a state of terrible uncertainty. He is both the you and l in line 1, symbolizing his internal conflict. Such lines as, When the evening is spread out against the sky Like a patient theorized upon a table(2-3) and When I am pinned and wriggling against the wall, Then how should I vividly portray Froufrous own sense of paralysis. He feels that he has no control over the situation whatsoever. Furthermore, e thinks himself totally unfit to take up a courtship. Statements like They will say: School his hair is growing ) and They will say: DHOW his legs and arms are thin(44) express his inner lack of self-esteem and self-confidence. Froufrou worries about the rebuke of mainstream society for his expression of love and does not want to disturb the universe(46) lest all his faults are revealed. He fears rejection from his own lover as well. Would it have been worthwhile If one, settling a pillow or throwing Off shawl, And turning toward the window, should say: that is not it at al, That is not what I meant, at all'(106-110). The final piece of this poem that needs to be examined in order to unlock Froufrous personality Is the opening epigraph. This epigraph is from Dents Inferno and If translated Into English it reads thus: If I believed my answer were being given to someone who would ever return to the world, this flame would shake no more. But since no one has ever returned alive from this depth, Is what I hear Is true, I will answer you without fear of disgrace. This passage resonates with Froufrou, for he is in a hell himself. A hell of his own thoughts an Nonsensical. He cannot rolling enamels to ace one way or another. Moreover, Nils own worries and qualms about himself are near tortuous. The Livelong of J. Alfred Froufrou contains numerous allusions to other literature. Three of the most striking allusions are those to John the Baptist, Lazarus, and Hamlet. First, the allusion to John the Baptist reveals the relationship of society to Froufrou. Society has decapitated Froufrou and discouraged him from fully expressing his love . The allusion to Lazarus is tied to Froufrou in that Just as Lazarus was unable to tell his story of hell to those n Earth, Froufrou is unable, or thinks he is unable to declare his love to his girlfriend. The allusion to Hamlet is the most important of all. Froufrou is quite similar to Hamlet in that both are procrastinators. Still, Hamlet decided to force the moment to its crisis while Froufrou Just apathetically pushed aside the moment of climax and went on with his sterile, boring life. He decided not to risk the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune. In general, the tone of this poem is one of near absolute despair. The rottenness of inner-city life provides a depressing undertone. Of restless nights in one-night cheap hotels And sawdust restaurants with oyster shells(6-7). The impersonality of the city is well pictured by Elliot here. It with its yellow fog that rubs its back upon the window-panes is the backdrop for the internal conflict of a Froufrou who is exhausted with life. The inner-city also stifles Froufrou. I should have been a pair of ragged claws Scuttling across the floors of silent seas(73-74). In short, city life is the very thing that is the bane of Froufrous love. A striking theme in this poem is that urbanity paralyzes the will. Streets that follow like a tedious argument Of insidious intent To lead you to an overwhelming question(8-10). The streets, or rather urban life, are a great factor in Froufrous indecisiveness. He sees the impersonal world about him and feels discouraged. Shall I say, I have gone at dusk through narrow streets And watched the smoke that rises from the pipes Of lonely men in shirt-sleeves, leaning out of windows(70-72). This passage once again reveals the mellowing nature of city life. The very nature of the inner-city is to oppress. In the large metropolis there is no opportunity for recreation, no chance to smell fresh air from the countryside, no silence, no freedom. This excerpt shows how the city naturally leads to apathy: The yellow fog that rubs its back on the window- panes Lingered in the pools that stand in drains Let fall upon its back the soot that falls from chimneys Curled once about the house and fell 5, 18, 19, 22). Here the smog of the inner city has been personified. It itself reeks of yellow cowardice. It rubs on windows, lingers in pools, stands by as soot falls upon it, ND falls asleep. The yellow fog had no type of invigorating effect at all. Rather, it led towards tiredness and apathy. The whole next stanza shows the effect of this city upon Froufrou. He decides that there will be time(23) for a hundred indecision(32) and leans toward not disturbing the universe and not disturbing the women who come and go Talking of Michelangelo(35-36). Clearly, Froufrou has become apathetic as a result of an impersonal city and an impersonal society which is represented by the women. Finally, the urban life is an agent of deception. It asses Froufrou to believe that there will be time yet for a hundred indecision, And for a hundred visions and revisions, Before the taking of a toast and tea(32-34), while in fact, the eternal Footman holds Froufrous coat at the door, waiting for him to die. Urbanity veils death from Froufrou and in so doing killed all his spirit. For truly, ten Tear AT tenant can De ten greatest motivator. I en clay also sleeves Protract auto his love and his own self. I grow old grow old 1 shall wear the bottoms of my trousers rolled. Shall I part my hair behind? Do I dare to eat a peach? I shall wear white flannel trousers and walk upon the beach. I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each. I do not think they will sing to It is society that forces Froufrou into believing he is too old to be adventurous. It is the dead urban lifestyle that makes him feel he has lost his chance for love. The dirty inner city had such far- reaching effects as making Froufrou think that the mermaids or his lover would never sing to him. For indeed, they could have if his apathy and fear of retribution had not been king. This passage is central to everything Elliot is saying. It preaches of defeatism, the giving in to a brutal world. What man ought to do, though, is overcome such adversity through strength of mind. In todays society, the trend towards urbanism is equally dangerous to strength of mind. It is the cause of a rise in violence. Depression, suicide, low morale, and low ambition can be linked to it. For urbanity in and of itself is antithetical to all the human race has strove for. Instead of upholding beauty, it diminishes it, and instead of nurturing love and relationship, the city quells such feeling through impersonality. It is not progress, but regression. Another interpretation of these facts is that procrastination, which has been linked to age in this poem, has a sort of snowball effect. The older Froufrou grows, the less likely he will propose his love and the more he thinks about the paradoxical situation he has found himself in, the more he fears approaching his love. This theme resonates on a much less complex level than the first but is much more applicable. Take risks and live lively or such things as urbanity, society, age, and fear will grow upon you and squelch all adventurous spirit.

Promoting A Healthy Environment For Children The Role of the Practitioner Essays

Promoting A Healthy Environment For Children The Role of the Practitioner Essays Promoting A Healthy Environment For Children The Role of the Practitioner Essay Promoting A Healthy Environment For Children The Role of the Practitioner Essay My first piece of evidence is a Cleves Cross dinner menu, which displays the food that will be served to the children throughout the week. It displays a variety of foods which will suit the childrens daily intake as they are rich is carbohydrates, sugars, vitamins and minerals. Every meal will come with clean drinking water to fulfil a childs right to clean water. Each meal now also comes with a health nutritious salad or numerous vegetables such as broccoli or carrots, this enables children to stay fit and healthy. It is the role of the practitioner to plan and cook these meals daily for every child to ensure that every child has a nutritious meal so that children get their Guided Daily Amount (GDA) of nutrients and so they have the energy to participate in fun stimulating activities. If children have allergies or disliking in the food then it is the role of the practitioner to plan suitable alternatives which will provide them with the necessary nutrition, for example in my first placement Child A was a vegetarian and does not like to consume any meat or fish and that he does not like milk which was being served, so my supervisor and myself had to plan a substitute food and drink to give to him instead of serving him the tuna. This was discussed with another member of staff that usually prepares the meals and we decided that providing him with cheese and orange juice would be a suitable substitute for the tuna and milk, as it will provide him with the necessary nutrition that tuna would, such as protein, calcium and Vitamin C. It is the role of the practitioner to review the Childrens Dietary Needs file before a meal is served, to observe any dietary needs of the children within the setting and appropriate planning and action must be taken to suit these needs. It is also my role to act as a role model and eat healthy food with these children, as they will witness me doing this and imitate me according to Skinners imitation theory. [E8] Practitioners must know the specific needs of every child so that they can suit these needs to help them develop to the best of their ability, so practitioners must listen carefully to parents to respect and act professional about these needs. I learnt that practitioners must also follow inclusions polices to stop a child from feeling excluded, for example when serving the cheese to the child many other child has asked for some cheese too but I explained to them that it was just for Child A as they all had tuna, and they were all happy to eat the tuna instead, this ensures that everyone felt included and all had something to eat and drink. My second piece of evidence in a Fire evacuation procedure, this clearly shows step by step instructions about what to do if a fire occurs; these are placed all over the school in case of a fire. It is the role of the practitioner to create and put up these instructions all over the school to protect the children in case there is a fire, practitioners must also have regular fire drills and tests to ensure that all the alarms work correctly and teach every child how to line up and evacuate the building without panicking or getting upset. In my placement the teachers also arranged a visit from the local fire fighting team to come and give and talk about their job and the dangers of fire, they had a quiet chat with a particular young girl how was very scared of fire and this helped her emotional well-being as it put her mind at rest. My third piece of evidence is a Health and Safety Policy which Aims to provide a safe and healthy environment for children, teaching and non-teaching staff and all other people who come onto the premises of our school According to the Health and Safety Policy. This document clearly states many aim, principles and responsibilities that a parent must read and sign for their child to enter the school as a student. This policy will create a safe and secure environment for all children to protect them from all dangers and hazards. It states many policies and procedures to keep each child intellectually, socially, emotionally and physically safe from all hazards. It is the role of the practitioner to write these policies and ensure they are put into practise by safeguarding each and every child. My fourth piece of evidence is a risk assessment taken from my setting when we were conducting a school trip to the local village, every member of staff on the trip would read and sign the document to accept legal responsibility. The United Nation Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989 means that I must legally provide clean water, nutritious food and a safe environment for the children in my setting, to do this I must carry out many risk assessments of the environment to ensure the setting is safe for every child to attend. During school trips, indoor and outdoor play, practitioners must always conduct risk assessments to ensure that the environment with be as safe as possible for every child. Practitioners must fulfil the childrens right to be healthy by providing them with healthy food, physical exercise and a happy environment. Practitioners must take steps to keeping children safe e. g. risk assessments and ensure that children can enjoy and achieve by providing them with fun and stimulating activities to develop and reach their full potential in life. There are many risk assessments carried out to manage every risk to provide a healthy environment to challenge each child. Safety procedures are carried out regularly such as first aid and fire drills and there should always be the correct staff to children ratio. According to the EYFS Practise Card 3. 3 the Learning Environment, Help children to understand how to behave outdoors and inside by talking about personal safety, risks and the safety of others. Ensure safety without stopping reasonable risk-taking. My final piece of evidence is an accident report taken from my setting. At my setting, there are many policies and procedures that must be followed by all staff members if a child has an accident. Each child has their own Safeguarding: Accident Log which should always be filled in for minor accident and injuries. Every time a child has an injury the Date, Time, Place of accident, Circumstances, Nature and Treatment must be recorded and then the Supervisor, Manager, Witnesses and parents must all sign the log to prove that they have all been notified. The accident must then be given a number and that number must be placed on a diagram to show where the child has hurt themselves, it is the role of the practitioner to fill out all these forms and record each accident. After every accident the manager must be informed about all the details and then must sign the accident log to prove that they have been informed. If a childs injury gets worse than an Injury Monitoring Log must be filled in and the childs health must be recorded every 30 minutes, this is for things such as concussions where the parents of the child must be contacted as soon as possible. Confidentially must be maintained at all times throughout a childs accident, for example a supervisor cannot disclose any information to a parent about any other child other than their own. As a practitioner it is my role to promote this healthy lifestyle by following legislation and acting as a role model, by eating and providing a variety of healthy food and snacks with the children so they can choose which ones they prefer as every child is different and would have a different opinion. As a practitioner I must follow initiatives such as the 5-a-day scheme which states that a child should have at least 5 fruits or vegetables a day to keep healthy. As a practitioner it is my role to ensure that I encourage children to clean their teeth and go to the dentist and doctors regularly and to produce hygiene routines such as hand washing or teeth brushing before or after lunch, this will become a habit to children and they will continue to do this throughout their life. The Children Act 2004 promotes the five outcomes of the Every Child Matters (ECM) legislation, one of these outcomes is be healthy and this ensures that every child has the right to have all of their dietary and nutritional needs met while at the setting, it is the role of the practitioner to ensure that each child gets the nutrients they need. Early years settings are all influenced by legislation to create strict policies and procedures to safeguard and protect their children and according to Beaver et al (2008:92) Operating against policy will often have serious disciplinary implications for staff involved. E10] The ECM legislation ensures that every child matters no matter what background/ gender or belief a child has, they all must be given equal support to thrive and develop. It is the role of practitioners to never discriminate against a child because of their disability, race, gender or beliefs; they must be treated fairly and given equal opportunities to succeed. According t o Tassoni P et al (2007:115) It is an accepted view in society and the early years sector that every child is special and should be given opportunities to fulfil his or her potential. This is the bases on anti-discriminatory practise and focus of many laws today. Practitioners should always challenge discrimination in practise, they must follow the settings policies and procedures to stop the abusive behaviour or language as the welfare of the child being discriminated against may be at risk, also other children will imitate this attitude and grow up to understand that everyone is different and should be valued. E8] Every child is different and has different likes and dislikes and cultural background, this personal information can be used to help plan specific activities to keep a emotionally and intellectually healthy, for example a child who likes trains can count toy trains to develop their maths skills as every child is unique and will have different interests and will need different activities planned to help them develop. There are many policies, procedures and legislations to ensure that inappropriate behaviour must be kept to a minimum to safeguard the children, for example EYPs must legally undergo regular safeguarding training and Ofsted requirements to ensure they are capable to protect a child. Another example is the Children Act 1989 which explains thats children must be protected at all times; this is the duty of a practitioner. Workers must follow many health and safety procedures to never put staff members or children at risk; they must constantly behave as professionals to safe-guard every child in a setting. For example it is the role of the practitioner to always carry a first aid kit when taking children off the premises, as children made need medication or medical assistance while they are out. In a nursery it is the role of the practitioner to suit all over the childrens care needs, for example feeding, clothing, bathing and putting them to sleep when they need it. Although this may be difficult as every child is different and may want to eat/sleep at a different time of the day. If a child is showing signs of sickness or illness then a practitioner must follow strict policies and procedures to protect the welfare of the child. A practitioner must immediately take the childs temperature and follow a specific procedure, depending on that childs temperature. When this childs temperature was first taken, it was above 37i C, so a Sickness Monitoring Log must be filled in to record the childs temperature every 10 minutes. After 10 minutes the childs temperature had risen to over 37. 5i C so emergency calpol had to be administrated and her mother was called and informed, the setting then isolated the child so the infection could not spread, following their procedure for prevention of infection. The settings polices state that if the childs temperature had rose to over 38i C then the parents would immediately have to come and collect the child and take them to the doctors. Every child has a Sickness Monitoring Log and it must be filled in every time a child is ill, a practitioner must declare the time, symptoms, the action taken, if the childs parents were informed and if they were collected early. The parents of the child, supervisor present and the manager of the setting then had to sign the log. Another example is the Children Act 1989 which explains thats children must be protected at all times; this is the duty of a practitioner. A worker must Honour the confidentiality of information relating to the child and their family, unless its disclosure is required by law or is in the best interest of the child According to CACHE. Workers must follow many health and safety procedures to never put staff members or children at risk; they must constantly behave as professionals to safe-guard every child in a setting. According to Bruce T and Meggitt C (2010:365) Practitioners, including students, should not discuss or otherwise share this information for example, when chatting in the staffroom or with friends at the weekend. . Practitioners must understand that Settings will have strict confidentiality policies which will compel them to keep all private information about a child in a safe, secure place and only disclose this information if that specific childs well-being is at risk. Practitioners must also understand that if this private information is revealed it may cause harm or distress to the child or family involved and the child may have problems trusting adults in the future, as staff must be aware of the importance of confidentiality in the roles of the key person as Anyone working with your children, whether in a nursery setting, a school or in the family home, will need to practise confidentiality. Confidentiality is respect for the privacy of any information about a child and his or her family. According to Bruce T and Meggitt C (2007:499). For example, when I carried out my dairy tasks and observations in my setting I had to sign a statement of confidentiality to ensure that I respected my settings policies of confidentiality and instead of naming the setting and the children I used names such as Child A and Adult B to refer to each child. Although I could improve my practise by keeping all my observation about the children in a safer location such as a lockable file cabinet instead of my current plastic folder.

Investigating business Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 4

Investigating business - Assignment Example Started by Jack Cohen as a sole proprietor business, the business attained developments after the entrepreneur built a warehouse and headquarter in north London. After being registered as a private company in 1932, new developments followed after floating the company’s stocks in the stock market in 1947 (Pinto, 2012, pg.13). The company continued with its expansionary zeal by buying competitors shops. By 1970, the company developed its operations and the chain supermarkets became a household name throughout the United Kingdom (U.K). The company’s reputation developed through provision of basic groceries at competitive prices. With time, the company introduced luxury goods as people earned better incomes. By 1980s, the company continued to the building new stores recording a hundred stores by 1985. The company’s vision of expansion on different consumer products continued through investing in different fields making it the largest independent retailer in the petro l industry by 1991 (Peterson, 2012, pg. 11). The company’s aims and objectives of reaching out to the wider customers ensure developing new customer-focused initiatives as well as other stores in different localities. Advancements in new customer-initiatives enhanced introduction of the customer loyalty card. Other developments ensure the company delivers the best customer products and the first company to introduce a healthy eating initiative. The healthy eating symbol branded the nutritional products thus making the company the first largest retailer to emphasize on nutritional value of the company’s brands to its customers. The company also maintains its expansion of retailing services through forming joint ventures and acquisitions. For example, the company joined with the Royal Bank in Scotland to enhance offering a variety of financial services. Consequently, the company introduced a visa card to enhance customer efficiency. The company currently offers a range o f financial

Organization of context in nursing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Organization of context in nursing - Essay Example Holy Mercy Hospital currently has a total of 500 beds; the ICU and CVICU units have been allocated 25 beds each. For a hospital classified under Acute Care Facilities, with programs in emergency medicine, critical care, cardiovascular medicine and surgery such a bed capacity is a significant internal strength. The hospital handles mostly patients requiring specialised attention and therefore having enough beds greatly improves the quality of service offered to clients. Firstly, the comfort of patients is paramount in healthcare and with such a number of beds; the Holy Mercy Hospital is able to effectively deliver on comfort to patients as they await or receive care (Liew and Kennedy, 203). From the perspective of evidence-based practice, it has been established that boarding especially in acute care settings significantly worsens patient outcomes. Boarding involves holding patients for longer periods in emergency units due lack of space or low bed capacities in hospitals and this causes overcrowding. Some negative impacts of boarding and ultimately crowding include delays in care delivery, diversion of ambulance services and increased periods of stay at the hospitals. Cases of medical negligence, financial loss and medical errors also increase with boarding in hospitals and these culminate higher patient mortality rates. One high impact solution to the challenges above in hospital settings is to reduce triage times and increase bed capacity. With increased bed capacity Mercy Hospital is able to achieve this and even register patients at the bedside. This eliminates the need for long queues and waits in the process of registration. As a result of the bed capacity, the hospital is at times able to completely bypass triage and effectively streamline service delivery. Patients who show no critical signs for instance are send directly the area where they wait on beds for service. This improves quality as physicians take their time to listen to the patients and

Generation & people Essay Example for Free

Generation people Essay It is interesting to study what makes a generation, before we go into whether generational factors play a key role in making one more willing to do or successful. It is generally accepted that a generation does not necessarily mean the same age people. It is rather the set of influences that worked on them during their formative years that makes their generation distinct. What is more important is that they share the same formative experiences. The whole theme of ‘generation factor’ is based more on observation and theories than on any dependable evidence. Our common sense tells that it is not so much the person’s date of birth that defines them it is rather what influences they were exposed to during their formative years and some time thereafter that is important. According to Rhode and Platteel, formative experiences produce powerful symbols from which arises a sense of a new generation. The plasticity of our brains, besides responding to the people and training to which we expose it, also responds, for good or for bad, to the technology all around us: television, movies, mobile phones, e-mail, laptop computers and the Internet (The New Brain Dr Richard Restak. 2003) The strongest influences on the ‘generation –y’ are the well known world brands and their products. They have successfully created a generation which is prosperous, happy and well adjusted. (By David Plotz. 1999). These influences play a key role in making the minds of the generation. Undoubtedly, all these will create openness in their approach resulting in willingness to do what think right. They are quite different from the previous generations which were more skeptical lacking the much needed information and guidance, reserved and unwilling to take risks. Now, â€Å"the brand touches the mindset and the heartstrings of a large proportion of VG by offering the attitude for living: ‘Just do it†. (David Plotz. ) References David Plotz (1999). The American Teenager. Why Generation Y? http://slate. msn. com/id/34963/ Richard Restak. ( 2003) . The New Brain. Rodale Ltd Rhode Platteel. (1999). Symbol Soup, Thames Hudson, ,

UK Market Entry Strategy for a Mobile Phone Operator

UK Market Entry Strategy for a Mobile Phone Operator The introduction of mobile telephone service in the United Kingdom was launched in 1985 (BBC News, 2005), however the beginnings of this technology can be traced to its use by the Swedish police in 1946 when they tested a radiophone (Free-Definition, 2005). In terms of modern technology, Bell Labs, a division of ATT, pioneered cellular technology in 1947 and exited the market in 1984 as the company believed the market would not develop to the point of being viable (Wharton School of Business, 2000). Interestingly, ATT ten years later would pay McCaw Cellular Communications $12.6 billion to acquire a cellular phone operator (USD) (Wharton School of Business, 2000). The words ‘mobile phone’ represents a term that encompasses cellular, satellite as well as any type of phone that provides mobility on a wide range scale (Free-Definition, 2005). It must be remembered that today’s cellular technology is based upon radio wave transmission that successively was pioneered by (epanorama, 2005): James Clark Maxwell in 1864 with his electromagnetic radiation theory called ‘Maxwell Equations’. Alexander Graham Bell in 1876 when he invented the telephone. Heinrich Hertz in 1887 with his discovery of ‘hertzian waves’ that are today called ‘radio waves’. Guglielmo Marconi in 1896 who conducted the first radio transmission. Radio frequencies predominated the mobile telephone industry through the 1960’s until the unavailability of these frequencies resulted in the development of cell-based networks to solve the frequency congestion problem in the 1970’s. And while the first modern mobile telephone call is created to Motorola on 3/04/1973 when Martin Cooper placed the first call on the streets of New York to Bell Labs. The first cellular phone network was actually developed in 1981 by ‘Nordisk Mobil Telefon’ (NMT) which was based on analog technology (Free-Definition, 2005). The preceding is acknowledged as the beginning of the cellular telephone industry and the subsequent boom that exceeded all expectations. The cellular industry in the United Kingdom is currently dominated by the following four major companies (BBC News, 2005): Vodafone Orange T-Mobile, and 02 In the face of the preceding, British consumers have been lodging complaints about overcharging, coverage areas and dropped calls which has prompted easyGroup’s Stelios Haji-Ioannou, (easyMobile, 2005), Fresh and Virgin Atlantic’s Sir Richard Branson, among others to announce that they are entering the fray to better serve consumers. This new round of developments in Britain’s cellular industry is an outgrowth of inquiries by the United Kingdom’s Office of Telecommunications (Oftel) that announced that British cellular phone companies four largest operators were overcharging callers by as much as 15% (McDonough, 2003). The preceding has opened the door for new and smaller companies to respond to consumer complaints and the corresponding marketing platform to gain a foothold through new services. The growth of cellular telephone communications in terms of technology, services, companies, handsets and market penetration has increased in the short period of 20 years to the point where 85% of all United Kingdom households have mobile phones (Mobile Operators Association, 2005) which translates into 9 out of every 10 British consumers using a mobile telephone (BBC News, 2005). The convenience offered by cellular services has seen consumers increase their utilization rates to the point where the total number of minutes consumers made on cellular calls almost doubled during the period 2000 to 2004, from 34 million minutes to 62 billion minutes (Mobile Operators Association, 2005). The most important development is that in 2004 the revenues of mobile voice and data companies at  £12.3 billion exceeded fixed-line revenues for the first time in U.K. history (Mobile Operators Association, 2005). The preceding information is important in understanding the far reaching impact, importan ce and inculcation of the mobile telephone in today’s lifestyles, both in personal as well as business use. However, this unprecedented growth is not without its problems. Sir Richard Branson the charismatic owner and founder of the Virgin Group has stated that the mobile phone industry in the United Kingdom is â€Å"†¦rip-off Britain at work again†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Pearse, 1999) and that â€Å"†¦ hardly anyone is getting a good deal†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Pearse, 1999). His statements have been supported by such events as: 2001 â€Å"Regulators launch unannounced inspections in price-fixing investigation† (Broersma, 2001) 2001 â€Å"Mobile phone companies slammed for targeting children† (Wearden, 2001) As well as customer service, insurance costs, coverage, dropped calls, highly monthly rates, high per minute rates, roaming charges, 12 month contracts and billing practices. The free for all at the top of the cellular food chain has created customer dissatisfaction with the ‘big four’ and they are seeking alternative solutions to what was once a novelty. And therein lies one of the biggest shifts in consumer viewpoints, and thus the industry as a whole. Once reserved for business individuals and upper income demographics, the cellular phone is no longer looked upon as a luxury or business item. Consumers see it as a necessity. Cellular telephone market penetration in the United Kingdom has reached the point where cellular phone ownership exceeds 100% of the country’s total population (cellular news, 2004). The industry’s biggest complaint is high per minute and monthly service charge rates. The per rate calling cost tariffs for ‘anytime minutes, mont hly call allotment and pay as you go plans’ differ widely, thus the plan programs tend to be misleading and costly. Table 1 – Monthly Calling rates in the United Kingdom * (Vodafone, 2005) ** (Orange, 2005) *** (One2One, 2005) **** (BT,2005) The above Table indicates the variance between companies for the same basic monthly plans and how longer term contracts result in lower monthly cost per call. The complexity arises when one attempts to calculate the calling time per minute within these plans and the variables attached. As a point of reference the following is a comparison of rate plans on a pay as you go basis: Table 2 – Pay As You Go in the United Kingdom * (Vodafone, 2005) ** (Orange, 2005) *** (One2One, 2005) **** (easymobile, 2005) The advantage of the ‘pay-as-you-go’ plans is that there is the lack of a contractual commitment for a monthly charge, thus depending upon which company you select the rates are slightly more per call. EasyMobile’s promise to slash rates seems to offer British consumers with a viable choice to the a 15p across the board rate that is the calling rate for the monthly plans. While the Virgin Mobile web site for the United Kingdom is not finished, information was obtained that indicates that the proposed ‘pay-as-you-go’ rates should wind up being 15p for the first 5 minutes of calls on a daily basis, and then rolling down to 5p thereafter for all calls made to standard United Kingdom locations as well as other Virgin phones. Calling other mobile networks will cost 35p (Wikipedia, 2005). In the instance of both the monthly plans and the Pay-As-You-Go plans, customers are required to purchase their phone at a cost ranging from  £50 on up. There are also the free phone offers that carry contract minimums of varied prices. The British mobile phone market is highly competitive as well as being a mature market. According to Porter’s (1998) generic strategies, firms fall into two broad categories: firms that utilize an advantage in cost, and firms that use differentiation as a means to establish a difference between themselves and their competitors. The mature and established nature of the British mobile phone market sees companies such as easyMobile, Virgin Mobile and Fresh committed to stealing market share from the big four, Vodafone, Orange, One2One and BT through the utilization of slashing costs to achieve gains in market share. The four major UK mobile phone companies also offer a broad array of services and phone types along with the varied plans to go with them. These services, such as video calling, Internet access, text messaging, along with phones that provide camera and streaming capabilities plus a host of features are designed to reap higher profit margins. The determining factor is price and the big four companies while cognizant of this aspect (price) are focusing on promoting the service and phone features as their major marketing push, along with the advantages of inter-service calling (same network). These services appeal to young adults, professionals and companies where the monthly costs or image fit their lifestyles. But, there are segments of the market where the costs of mobile phones has become a budgetary concern along with those whose credit does not qualify for monthly rates. These groups represent a sizeable share of the market and this is where the low cost providers are seeking to wrest market share away as well as take advantage of the tremendous growth potential in this segment of the market. Prepaid Market Segment The UK cellular phone market, much like those in other countries, has penetration limits in garnering consumers as there are segments of the population whose credit ratings did not and do not qualify them for the service contracts. This reality was recognized by cellular providers and the prepaid segment has been the number one driving force in the growth of the United Kingdom cellular market over the past 5 years. In 1998 Vodafone gained 300,000 new subscribers of which 127,000 joined using the Pay-As-You-Talk plan, or 42% (silicon, 2003). Similarly, Cellnet garnered 80,000 new customers for its Easylife pre-pay plan (silicon, 2003). And while the pay-as-you-go customer represents the least profitable base for cellular phone companies, their numbers and the marketing opportunities they represent in service trade up as well as increased usage makes them important as a group. The four major UK mobile phone providers have recently indicated their willingness to forgo utilizing low price leaders such as pay-as-you-go plans to attract new subscribers. The maturing of the cellular phone market has caused companies to look at profitability and to switch marketing emphasis on profitability per subscriber (BBC News, 2001). This was prompted by a study that showed a high percentage of pay-as-you-go customers were not regularly using their phones. The companies indicated that the marketing and sign up costs for this customer category was consuming a high budgetary percentage, thus the reason for the decreased emphasis (BBC News, 2001). The average prepaid customer brings in just one fourth of the revenue the monthly subscribers generate ((BBC News, 2001) thus the shift from attracting more prepaid customers to retention and upgrade as these customers are already a part of the marketing data base and the cost to increase revenues from this classification is far les s. The following will offer and analysis of the prepaid cellular segment: Age An Accenture survey conducted in 2002 found that fully 73% of children from 10 to 17 used mobile phones. It is interesting to note that the majority of these respondents believed that ‘gaming’ represented a major phone function with 91% describing the games as either poor or just average. Thus, age does represent a significant aspect as these children grow into teenagers and young adults. Cultivation of this market is deemed as being able to yield more benefits in terms of future subscribers familiar with cellular use and thus higher revenues per subscriber than the general prepaid profile. Other Not all prepaid customers are either young or in the upper age brackets. There are a number of valid potential future revenue generating customers within this segment who are either on current prepaid plans as well as those who have not yet taken on a mobile phone. In many instances a change of circumstances would represent a different usage pattern (analysis.com, 2002), : Budget Consumer This classification can take in many differing profiles. From those consumers who either see the mobile phone as a convenience, rather than as a daily phone tool, as well as consumers who just do not utilize the phone for personal or other calls. The budget conscious look to actively limit or manage their mobile phone usage to keep the cost of ownership in a defined pre-set budget range. Fixed Income Individuals on disability, unemployment or in retirement represent subscribers on limited incomes. In some instances, such as retired or some fixed income, the circumstances will not change. However, eliminating potential subscribers on the basis of theoretical potentials in such a highly competitive market could overlook the radiation power these people represent in terms of word of mouth possibilities. Low Income Individuals occupying the lower demographic profiles do not have the income to spend on either a mobile phone or excessive usage. The limitations of income keep this group in the low revenue classification. Changes in circumstances, the economy or other reasons could affect income and thus a change in usage patterns. Bargain Shoppers The demographics of this group spans basically all income classifications in varied percentages. They represent bargain shoppers who look for the best rates and their usage patterns can varying widely Limited Use The groups within this category can range from the average UK citizen in any demographic profile to individuals with multiple residences, or people who regularly travel between the United Kingdom and another country. The preceding summary illustrates that although the prepaid market has been classified by the major four mobile companies as a low revenue generator, there are significant revenue potentials within this group that can not be qualified, yet are there. Chapter 4 – Market Entry Strategies The preceding analysis of the British mobile phone market, along with a review of the four major companies within that field has uncovered the reasons as well as rationales for the existence of the huge pre-paid market within their subscriber base. And while the opportunities for further penetration of the market are limited, the opportunities within the mobile industry sector are definitely there. In addition to the continued entry into the market of teenagers coming of age, the existing cellular and non-cellular prepaid market offers definitive growth and profit opportunities for a firm that grasps the subtle nuances in the market and crafts approaches, pricing plans and marketing efforts to reap the rewards. In order to equate entry into this market, an examination of the management and related methodologies will precede the marketing campaign strategies. 2.1 Management and Strategic Methodologies Porter’s (1998) generic strategies indicates that firms fall into two categories, the ones that have an advantage in cost and the ones that use the principle of differentiation. Adherence to this understanding means that a firm will thereby recognize its strength and thus concentrate efforts to maximizing this effect. The opportunities in the prepaid cellular market’s lies in ‘cost leadership’ as the driving marketing foundation. David (2004) concurs with Porter’s (1998) assessment in advising companies to â€Å"’Establish Company Direction’ David (2004) indicates that this be accomplished through the development of a company vision, the setting of objectives to be achieved and attained. In addition he mentions crafting a strategy that seeks the opportunities inherent within a market and then devising consumer driven rationales to formulate a strategy to achieve these goals. Arnold’s (2003) â€Å"modes of Market Entry’ delves further into the theories raised by Porter (1998) and David (2004) and states that â€Å"The central managerial trade-off between the alternative modes of market entry†¦Ã¢â‚¬  winds up being â€Å"†¦risk and control†. He goes on to add that when one minimizes risk that company is seeking a â€Å"†¦ low intensity†¦Ã¢â‚¬  David (2004) mode of entry. This means that the company will select the safer courses of action which also do not require the depth of commitment by management to map out the detailed corresponding course of action to maximum success. The deeper a company delves into the nuances of the market and competitive approaches, the more skills on the part of the company are required to be worked into the system to handle these demands. These are the places or segments that the major firms are either ignoring, divesting themselves of or have deemed unprofitable. In reality these are the segments of the market that require more attention to detail and closer monitoring to exact opportunities as they present themselves, or via cultivation whereby the consumer is reached with compelling reasons to increase their expenditure. As illustrated by the varied classifications of prepaid subscribers as well as non-subscribers the opportunities exist to wrest profits in the exercise of Wal-Mart like efficient operations and economy of scale modes. Wal-Mart’s retailing example paved the way for a low cost market position to be the road to high market share and thus the resulting economies of scale. By minimizing costs a firm can generate profits from a low margin via operations and systems that cater to and serve consumer needs. The preceding is at the core of David’s (2004) market entry concepts. A firm must equate the degree of risk, and competence it brings to a particular market opportunity in recognition of the capabilities and resourc es of competitive firms, and thus craft a strategy that takes advantage of nuances as well as quarks within the market that have either been missed or deemed unprofitable. Johnson et al (2001) indicates that putting the firm’s strategy into action requires a company to organize itself for success. Exactly the points made by David’s (2004) market entry topics. Every industry leader has devised systems, administrative functions and overall operations to be sensitive to all developments, consumer trends, market opportunities and unexploited areas to dominate their industry group. Microsoft, Mercedes Benz, Wal-Mart, Dyson and others have done this, paid attention to the smallest of details and then exploited them in the marketplace. Marketing Campaign Strategies Given the cellular phone penetration rate in the United Kingdom, whereby 9 out of 10 people use the services of a mobile phone (BBC News, 2005), a wholesale attack on the market taking on established as well as known companies represents a frontal attack on fortified ground. A glorious charge, but prone to the cost of either failure or dismal results. Well-entrenched competitors also have ground to defend within their fiefdoms and attrition can occur by seeking out the disenfranchised as well as defectors and cast offs. The major four mobile companies have indicated their focus on profitable subscriber segments thus devoting fewer resources to the attraction of prepaid subscribers. This opens the door to cultivate new market entrants from the teenage classification as they mature each year, as well as the: Budget Consumer Fixed Income Low Income Bargain Shoppers Limited Use, segments which represent low profit generation groups, but in meaningful enough numbers whereby economies of scale can be employed. This so called ‘discount’ side of the market is not without its difficulties in that lower margin generating subscribers still expect first class service. And this all has to be accomplished using rates that compete with and beat those of easyMobile, Virgin Mobile and other firms concentrating on the prepaid market segment as a means to either growth or opportunity. Market Entry Strategies With the internal administrative functions and systems in place, or planned the company can execute is strategies for market entry. The following maps out the steps in sequencing of accomplishment of the foregoing: Planning Internal Implementation External Linkages Marketing Strategies Service The applications and areas of concentration with respect to the preceding, are as follows: Planning Arnold (2003) , Johnson et al (2001) and David (2004) all illustrated the importance of focusing on the goals and objectives and then planning out the steps leading to market entry. This entails management examining, questioning and devising systems and functions that will be needed to respond to the demands of the business being taken on. In the case of the entry into the British mobile market the state of market maturity and saturation along with established operators in a cost competitive market, the only viable market segments open are the marginal profit base profiles. The major mobile companies did not plan for or implement their operations to handle this type of business from the onset, thus their operational models are not profitable at that end. The utilization as well as concentration on subscriber profitability through new and added services as well as more features in handsets represents their commitment to trade up marketing for growth in a saturated market. As a result the lower profitability subscribers are offered basic services at a higher rate. Through planning to wrest profits from this group via a Wal-Mart type of approach from the onset, builds an organization to fit the marketing realities. Internal Implementation Once the planning concerning systems and functions has been completed and tested it needs to be implemented internally as a working environment. Incentives based upon identifying and lowering internal operational costs while maintaining high service levels are management tools to solicit the cooperation and commitment of managers and employees. External Linkages Outside services and equipment needs such as network costs need to be put in place. The most important aspect of this segment are utilization contracts where when certain numbers are achieved, costs are reduced. This provides built in profit incentives that management as well as the organization must set as goals, thus driving growth. Marketing Strategies Low cost market leader! Porter’s (1998) generic strategies identified this as a prime component along with differentiation. This is the opportunity that exists in the prepaid segment of the UK market which stands in excess of 50% of all subscribers. This market segment has driven subscription rates over the past five years and will continue to do so as consumers modify their cellular phone costs as well as enter the market from non-user categories such as teenagers. While the profitability quotient is lower there are rewards that exist after establishment of quality service at these rates. Much of what consumer seek entails the level of quality received per monetary outlay. As the retail price of computer hardware spiraled downward, Dell managed to garner huge market share through cost cutting direct delivery systems that enabled them to reduce stocking and return costs as well as implement higher levels of just in time delivery to reduce internal operating costs. This low pri ce quality service and product approach became the operative model for an industry faced with saturation, lower retail costs and internal margins. The comparative costs in the prepaid market indicate that the average industry rate hovers in the 15p range. Table 2 – Pay As You Go in the United Kingdom Company Rate Phone Answer Minimum Charge Landlines Other Networks Vodafone* 10p 10p 30p 35p to 40p Orange** 10p 5p 20p 40p One2One*** Offers Flat Rate Based on Calling Card Up to  £10

Illusion of Reality in John Barth’s Lost in the Funhouse Essay

â€Å"Lost in the Funhouse† explores the many layers of the theme â€Å"illusion of reality.† This concept is first introduced in the second paragraph as the explanation of initials or blanks replacing proper names in fiction-writing. The â€Å"attempt† at disguising a place name by shortening it, is really a tool used by authors to make a place seem real, in need of disguising. John Barth explains that this tactic is merely an â€Å"illusion of reality.† In the following pages of this story, the theme â€Å"illusion of reality† is present in the funhouse and self-perception during adolescence. The illusion of reality is a concept manifested in a funhouse. The funhouse itself is an illusion, with its rooms of mirrors that distort reality, moving floors and walls that disorient you, and its mazelike qualities that take you away from the realities of life. A funhouse is an alternative world, one meant for lovers embarking on a new adventure together. Ambrose can see its falseness from his single perspective and is aware of its deceptive powers. He is aware of the perversion inherent in the funhouse, the sleazy goals of sexual gratification disguised as child-like pleasures. To be lost in a funhouse is symbolic of the confusing and disorienting aspects of adolescence and particularly the sexual aspects of puberty. One’s perception of the self during adolescence can also be an illusion of reality. At one point in the story, we are led to believe that Ambrose is to be forever lost in this funhouse. This is representative of Ambrose’s fear that he will die illusioned, never sure of who he really is. Being lost in a funhouse alone is very much like particularly painful stages of adolescence. It is a place of romance, but for Ambrose it is a scary and confusing place, where he is still too young to be a part of the romance, but old enough to recognize and have that desire. These feelings are not only contained to adolescence, the sensation of being outside the fold and being unable to make sense of one’s emotions are present throughout life. Barth puts it best, â€Å"We will never get out of the funhouse† (9).

How to Deal with High Oil Prices Essay

To reduce the petroleum price not only government but people also must work hard about this problem. Steps must be taken by the government are:. 1. Government must work hard to depend on other sources like solar-energy, water (which are renewable sources). 2. Recently a Pakistani engineer Waqar Ahmad developed a vehicle that uses water as fuel. He claimed that on one litre of water a 1000 CC car can cover a distance of 40 km and a motorbike can run up to 150 km using this technology. Government must come forward to use up this technology in India. 3. Bangalore engineers has developed a car which gives 240kmpl and the government must focus on that cars and make those cars available in market at low cost. 4. Government must develop public transport system. 5. Traffic police must also work hard to clear traffic jam on roads because most of the fuel will be utilized by the vehicles in the traffic. 6. In the international market petroleum trading was done in dollars. As the Indian rupee value was decreasing we are investing more amount on that so government must focus on that. Steps must be taken by the people:. 1. For shorter distance we must go by walk or by bicycle. 2. We must off our vehicles during red signal. 3. People of same destination and same work must encourage carpooling. Finally government and people must work hard to create awareness in people who live in villages for the correct utilization of petroleum.

Hijackers of September 11th essays

Hijackers of September 11th essays The two articles in which I read were Hijackers final days: From poetry to the prosaic, and Imam said to blame Jews for attack. These two articles were very interesting, informative and also very educational. Hijackers final days: From poetry to the prosaic explained in a better perspective and also explained in a more simplified manner of what the hijackers done the last few days that they lived, and why they done it. This article also let it be known what kind of people the hijackers exactly were. On September 11 a poem was left behind by hijacker Waleed Alshehri, it spoke of traveling into the face of death with our heads held high. This was in the poem that he left, it just let everyone know that they were well aware of the horrendous act they were about to commit. Authorities believe that that Alshehri was aboard American Airlines Flight 11 and assisted to crash it into the World Trade Center. Imam said to blame Jews for attack was an article in which a man named Imam Omar Abu Nemous said that the Jews could be blamed for the WTC attacks. Nemous was the leader of NYCs largest mosque, he was Imam Gemeahas top aide. Gemeaha moved to Egypt because he said that his family had been threatened. So therefore Nemous was appointed as head leader. Nemous stated that Jews planned the attacks, but nobody would acknowledge that because Jews dominate the political government. Nemous also mentioned that the statements that he made had been changed and exaggerated into things that he had not said. Therefore because of this he now refuses to talk to or discuss anything with the press. This whole article is about Numous blaming the Jews for the WTC attack because he doesnt want to accept and acknowledge the fact that it was his people who did this. Whenever it comes to such controversial issues such as this opinions vary greatly. My opinion on these two specific articles may be rude, cr...

Quotes for Engagement Toasts

Quotes for Engagement Toasts Engagements are special because they signify that two people who share a caring relationship have now acknowledged their love for each other. It is after their engagement that the two people finally become a couple in the true sense of the term. You could include a few of the following quotes when making engagement toasts to the happy couple. Famous Quotes for Engagement Toasts Antoine De Saint-ExuperyAnd now here is my secret, a very simple secret; it is only with the heart that one can see rightly, what is essential is invisible to the eye.ThoreauThere is no remedy for love but to love more.Bertrand A. RussellLove is a little haven of refuge from the world.Amy BushnellLove reminds you that nothing else matters.Oscar WildeLong engagements give people the opportunity of finding out each others character before marriage, which is never advisable.Oscar Levant, to Harpo Marx upon meeting Harpos fiancà ©eHarpo, shes a lovely person. She deserves a good husband. Marry her before she finds one.AnonymousLove is just a word until someone comes along and gives it meaning.Keith SweatYou cant stop loving or wanting to love because when its right, its the best thing in the world. When youre in a relationship and its good, even if nothing else in your life is right, you feel like your whole world is complete.Janice MarkowitzIf you have to think about whether you love s omeone or not, then the answer is no. When you love someone you just know.Edgar Allan PoeWe loved with a love that was more than love.

Training and Development (Secret Service Uniformed and Security Assignment

Training and Development (Secret Service Uniformed and Security Division) - Assignment Example Officers have the responsibility of provision of additional support to the Secret Services mission using a number of tactics. For instance, the first one is the Counter sniper Support Unit (CS) founded in 1971 (US Secret Service, 2014). The function of the CS is the provision of specialized protective support that helps to defend against threats that may face the protected parties in the long run. Today CS forms an operational unit of the Protective Division of the president. The Canine Explosives Detection Unit (K-9) established in 1976 is another unit (US Secret Service, 2014). The function of the K-9 unit is the provision of specialized and skilled detection for explosives that may affect the protected persons under their jurisdiction. The third group is called the Emergency Response Team (ERT) founded in 1992. The primary function of ERT is the provision of technical support concerning unlawful intrusion as well as security challenges related to the White House as well as its grounds. ERT personnel undergo advanced, specialized training and must uphold a high standard of operational and physical proficiency. The fourth unit is magnetometers. The Secret Service started depending on magnetometer (metal detector) help by Uniformed Division officers to strengthen its protective attempts away from the White House after the attempted killing of President Ronald Reagan. The Magnetometer Support Units function is to ensure that not all people entering secure areas occupied by people protected by the secret service have weapons The Special Agent Division forms one of the most elite organizations for law enforcement in the world (US Secret Service, 2014). The group has earned such a reputation for over the 140 years of unparalleled service delivery to the nation. Being among the oldest law enforcement organs of the federal government, the

Religion and Prison System Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Religion and Prison System - Essay Example The current prison and jail population in recent times has shown a substantial rise of over two million. America undoubtedly leads the world in terms of number of imprisoned population and that is a disgrace. USA prison system has made millions lives to live constantly under the threat of torture. This is precisely true for the 6.9 million individuals in USA who are at present imprisoned or some way or the other subject to the USA penal body (Franklin). More insidiously, the prison system has essentially assisted in turning torture into a normal, lawful, and a common part of American culture. Imprisonment can be classified as a form of torture owing to the fact that it is considered as the legal form of both punishment and avoidance. Moreover, the American prison system is typically designed and run to maximize filth, brutality, and punishment. As mentioned by Franklin â€Å"Beatings, electric shock, prolonged exposure to heat and even immersion in scalding water, sodomy with riot b atons, nightsticks, flashlights, and broom handles, shackled prisoners forced to lie in their own excrement for hours or even days, months of solitary confinement, rape and murder by guards or prisoners instructed by guards† (Franklin) are very common within the closed walls of the American prison.... Christianity does not provide an easy answer to the viability of torture that is practiced by mankind. It does provide a sense of hope about something that Christians should respect and consider even more than their individual and national security. Due to the fact that the portrayal of the black sites are as elusive as attempts to define their legal status, a chronology from the past eight years of information pertinent to them can efficiently aid in understanding the phenomenon of the black sites. It is true that the black sites function beyond the jurisdiction of international and even, for all intents and purposes the American law. However, the way in which they do so is dependent and logically coherent with the divisions of power and accountability between various government agencies and departments-in particular, the pentagon, FBI, and CIA. The black sites are on the fringe of places that common man is able to see, but are cordoned off by essential makeshift legal fences. After the incident of 9/11, the CIA was ordered to operate and carry on their procedures without any legal restraints. By late 2001, empowered to act without restraints, the CIA fell short of places to hide their high valued detainees. Again the additional freedom that was granted to CIA instigated a desire to acquire greater control over their investigation without any sort of external indulgence. Due to this, the government of United States of America allotted millions of dollars to construct private prisons that were exclusively meant for the CIA. These private prisons are known as black sites. The first known and prominent black site was constructed in Kabul on an old factory site named as the ‘salt pit’. In the

What will happen vs what should happen with Government Warrantless Essay

What will happen vs what should happen with Government Warrantless Surveillance - Essay Example Warrantless Surveillance will continue to be a mode of operation by the Federal Government. Things will continue to go pretty much as they have since 2001. There will continue to be court cases which will challenge the right of the government to engage in what some would call an illegal operation. It is hard to argue against the security of our nation as being a reason for this action. Some people will continue to distrust the government and their reasons for gathering certain information and tapping foreign phone calls. When looking at utopia, our country would not need to gather this information because everyone would be doing what is expected of them and not out to harm their neighbor. The government would function as an arm of the people, providing for the common good of all Americans. The court system would be engaged in the enforcement of our laws and not arguing about what is constitutional or unconstitutional. A sad thing that would happen with the disappearance of warrantless surveillance, people would lose their job. The news shows on television would have to find something else to discuss and Senators Kerry and McCain would begin addressing more pressing

The Bob Knowlton Case Study Essay Example for Free

The Bob Knowlton Case Study Essay Summary Bob Knowlton is the head of the Photon Lab when a new member, Simon Fester, was introduced to his lab. He begins to feel inferior to his new member and feels that he cannot voice his concerns to his superior, Dr. Jerold. After a period of events and insecurities, he finds a better position with more salary and takes the job immediately. Dr, Jerrold and Fester were shocked by Knowlton’s decision. The lab took a large hit as Fester went on to work on another project as planned. No one knew that Knowlton wanted to leave as he did so very suddenly citing fictional personal problems. Analyze the roles of those involved The main characters in the Bob Knowlton case were: Bob Knowlton the team leader of Photon Lab collaborative team leader hard working man confidence easily wavered by insecurities does not voice out problems Dr. Jerrold the supervisor of Bob Knowlton and his team has very high expectations of those working under her not observant no instinctual perception Simon Fester a new comer to the company and Photon Lab confident aggressive competitive opportunist highly intelligent non paticipative Discuss the reasons as to why what happened happened. The bringing in the newcomer: Bob Knowlton was threatened by the newcomer that was not properly introduced to him Fester just showed up without warning and began looking into things Dr. Jerold did not introduce Fester did not even for mention or hint at Knowlton for possibly having someone new join his team Simon Fester lacked tact and the human touch was too confident and arrogant to accept the way people do things and embrace it The communication breakdown: Bob Knowlton did not voice his queries or insecurities simply assumed that Fester was there to replace him did not consider speaking to his supervisor regarding his problem and started looking for another job instead Dr. Jerold did not indicate that Festers place in Knowltons team was temporary did not give earlier warning regarding Festers transfer to another project did not make any intentions of caring for Knowltons well being Simon Fester too much of an opportunist to work in a team with others did not heed the advice of whom was rightfully his team leader remained individualistic and closed off to the team until he left to work for another project Consider the personalities involved, especially those of Knowlton and Fester, and the organizational characteristics. Bob Knowlton was more of an introvert. He did not share his feelings,opinions and conflicts with his team mates, Fester or Jerold. He lacked also lacked of strong of communication skills. He did not know how to voice his concerns to Jerold or properly inform an guide Fester on his responsibilities in the team, which lead to Fester doing his own thing most of the time, without consulting with others. Simon Fester on the other hand was someone very self involved and confident. He had no qualms speaking openly of his ideas and what he wanted to do. Fester was also aggressive in his approach. He did not care for group work and was more individualistic, even to the point of making others feel inferior. Organizational characteristic: Work Group Knowlton had regular morning meetings with his members as a way to keep up to date of what was going on in the project, and discuss problems faced. However, Fester took over some of these meetings plastering himself as the team leader, and spear heading discussions, undermining Knowltons authority and the intelligence of the team at many an occasion. Open System Jerrold and Knowlton shared a mostly open relationship, Knowlton even mentioned that he enjoyed Jerold coming over to talk to him at the end of  the day. However, Knowlton did not share his problems with his superior when he had the chance of voicing them; mainly when he felt threatened by Fester’s place in the team. Imagine yourself in the position of Dr. Jerrold at the end of the case, reflecting back over the events. Is there anything you could have done, on the basis of what you knew or could have known at the time, that would have led to a more favorable outcome? State your reasoning. Dr.Jerrold could have utilized a better interpersonal communication skill. Had she made clear that she was going to hire Simon Fester and taken into consideration Bob Knowltons personality, explaining her intentions to train him to lead another project, things might have worked out very differently. Knowlton could have been less insecure regarding his position and would probably been more willing to overlook Festers lone ranger tendencies. Had Dr. Jerrold utilized interpersonal communication with Simon Fester as well, ensuring that Fester should try to work under the conditions laid out by his team leader, Fester might have better understood where he stood within the team and made more of an effort to be a team player as intelligent or talented as he may be. Dr. Jerrold could have also been more involved with the meetings, and taken an initiative to ensure that all employees were happy and satisfied.

Sophocles Antigone - Sophocles and Antigone :: Antigone essays

Sophocles and Antigone    Sophocles is an ancient Greek writer and philosopher, who wrote one of the greatest stories of all time Antigone.   Sophocles is also said to be one of the greatest minds in the ancient world. This paper talks about Antigone, achievements and times of Sophocles.      Ã‚  Ã‚   Sophocles was born about 496 BC at Colonus in Attica, near Athens and died 406 BC.   He lived in the most brilliant intellectual period of Athens.   Sophillus, his father, was a wealth Athenian citizen and gave him a sound education in music, gymnastics, and dancing.   He was well known as having a reputation for learning and esthetic taste.   He was well versed in Homer and the Greek lyric poets, and because of his industriousness he was known as the â€Å"Attic Bee† (Rexine 132).   â€Å"Do to his youthful beauty, he was chosen to lead the chorus in the Paen of Thanksgiving for the naval victory at Salamis in 480 BC.† (Rexine 132)      Ã‚  Ã‚   In Sophocles’ long life he several times held public office, partly do to his fame as a dramatist and his gentle qualities as a man.   â€Å"In 440 BC he was appointed one of the generals in the war which Pericles led against Samos, and in 413 BC.† (Magill, Kohler p# 1023)   He was also one of the ten commissioners appointed after the failure of the expedition to Sicily, to govern Athens.   Pericles once said to him â€Å"you know how to write poetry, but you certainly don’t know how to command an army† (Internet)      Ã‚  Ã‚   Sophocles first won first prize, in a competition with Aeschylus, on 468 BC at the age of twenty-eight.   During his career he never won less than second prize and gained first prize twenty times, more than any other Greek tragedian.   Sophocles wrote more than 120 tragedies, only a mear seven have survived.   â€Å"Plutarch tells us that there were three periods in Sophocles’s literary development: imitation of the grand style of Aeschylus, use of artificial and incisive style, and use of the best style and that which is most expressive of character.   It is only from the third period we have examples of.†Ã‚   (Rexine p#134)      Ã‚  Ã‚   The seven tragedies that survive are Ajax 447 BC, Antigone 442/441 BC, Oedipus at Colonus 401 BC, Tracheniae 437-432 BC, Oedipus Rex 429 BC, Electra 418-414 BC.

Gatekeeping Survives the Modern Age

A Master of Science in Communication Studies has finally become the heir apparent to an idea I’ve had for many years. Getting a graduate degree was always something I thought worthwhile, but the field of study was not so obvious. I did not want to put forth the time, effort and money without a clear idea of why to choose a particular subject, and then how to put it to good use. My first career as a weekly newspaper reporter was wonderful.Fresh out of college, but with a speech communication major (because that sounded like fun and could get me out of school in four years) I learned the newspaper business from a gentle man in a small town. Because writing is my first love, I was able to easily put information into a readable format. The rest of the responsibilities – interviewing, researching, proofreading, editing, layout, paste-up, photography, developing film and printing pictures, I picked up on the job. I was young and single, then young and married, and life was go od. It got better with children, so I put the newspaper business aside.As a few friends earned their Master’s Degrees, I was envious but not compelled. English and writing were options, but didn’t appear sensible unless I taught high school or contacted New York for literary work (no small feat in those pre-technology days). I was not interested in either. Life with kids was busy and they were the priority for my time. Two decades later I resumed where I had left off. I was ready to work for pay again and fell into the perfect job as a weekly newspaper reporter. It has been a growing experience as I brushed up on and fine-tuned my skills.I dove into controversial issues as well as the mundane, and for the last four years have recorded the news of a very active community. From this has grown the idea that a master’s is the next logical step. I love to learn, as I have from every story written for the newspaper. I am interested in studying the media from ‘th e big picture’ and associating with fellow mass communication enthusiasts. There are particular aspects of the degree I will pursue because it may be the only way to learn computerized techniques useful in the field.Most of my kids are no longer home to teach me that. For my final years of employment I would like to work with a company or non-profit organization, or teach at a junior college. I plan to stay with my perfect job until my last child is out of high school. Then I may be ready for a job with set hours. I’m quite sure that one year at a respectable salary will reimburse the cost of the master’s tuition, compared to a reporter’s wage. At any rate, I am always up for an adventure, and have been excited since deciding to further my education. Pat Fridgen

Japanese Hrm Essay

International Journal of Human Resource Management, Human Resource Management Journal, Organizational Dynamics and Asian Business and Management. In 2005 he co-edited a book entitled â€Å"Japanese Management: The Search for a New Balance between Continuity and Change† with Palgrave. Anne-Wil Harzing is Professor in International Management at the University of Melbourne, Australia. Her research interests include international HRM, expatriate management, HQsubsidiary relationships, cross-cultural management and the role of language in international business. She has published about these topics in journals such as Journal of International Business Studies, Journal of Organizational Behaviour, Strategic Management Journal, Human Resource Management, and Organization Studies. Her books include Managing the Multinationals (Edward Elgar, 1999) and International Human Resource Management (Sage, 2010). Since 1999 she also maintains an extensive website (www. harzing. com) with resources for international and cross-cultural management as well as academic publishing and bibliometrics. Abstract The objective of this chapter is to develop suggestions as to how Japanese multinational corporations (MNCs) might best make use of foreign, here specifically American and German, HRM practices in order to reform their own HRM model. These suggestions are based on a large scale empirical study, encompassing responses from more than 800 HR managers. The learning possibilities for Japanese companies from abroad are analyzed on two different levels: at headqu arters and at subsidiary level. One obvious difficulty we are presented with if we wish to answer the question what Japan can learn from ‘the West’ is the selection of countries that are representative of ‘the West’. In this study we limit our empirical research to the inspirations Japan might receive from the USA and Germany. This selection has some merit, in representing the largest and the third 2 3 largest developed economies in the world (with Japan being the second largest economy), and the economically dominant nations of North America and Europe (with Japan being the leading economy in Asia). In addition, the USA and Germany each embody the prime example of two of the three main varieties of market economies: the USA representing the free market economy of Anglo-Saxon countries and Germany the social market economy of continental Europe (with Japan embodying the third main variety of market economies, the government-induced market economy of East-Asia). Furthermore, according to Smith & Meiksins (1995: 243) the USA, Japan and Germany are most frequently referred to as role models, â€Å"as they provide ‘best practice’ ideals from which other societies can borrow and learn. Consequently, these country models have been subject to numerous comparative analysis (Thurow, 1992; Garten, 1993; Yamamura and Streeck, 2003; Pascha, 2004; Jacoby, 2005). As economic performance and growth paths vary over time the role of a ‘dominant’ economy also rotates among countries. In the 1950s, 1960s and most of the 1970s the American management style clearly was domi nant and a common expectation was that it would spread around the world, gaining application in many foreign countries. From the late 1970s to the early 1990s, this argument increasingly was applied to Japan (Mueller, 1994), and to a lesser extent and limited to the European context, to Germany (Albert, 1991; Thurow, 1992). Since the implosion of the Japanese economy, the stagnation of the German economy, and with the advent of globalization, the conventional wisdom over the last one and a half decades up to the current economic crisis has been that the American management model is particularly well suited to provide the necessary flexibility to cope with rapidly evolving economic and technological conditions. Consequently, the USA became again the dominant role model (Edwards et al. , 2005). This study employs a very carefully matched design in which we investigate the same three countries (Japan, the USA and Germany) as home and host countries. We not only study HRM practices at headquarters (HQ) in each of these three countries, but also the practices of the subsidiaries of MNCs from each of the three countries in the two other respective countries. As a result, we re able to compare the HRM practices of nine different groups of companies: HQ in Japan, the USA and Germany, subsidiaries of Japanese and German MNCs in the USA, subsidiaries of Japanese and American MNCs in Germany and subsidiaries of American and German MNCs in Japan. This design will enable us to disentangle the inspirations companies seek from abroad to a far greater extent than has been possible in other studies. 3 4 The structure of our analysis is separated into two main sections. The first main section describes empi rical results from HQ and the second main section depicts the situation at subsidiary level. For each of the two main sections, first the context of existing research is summarized. Subsequently, the methodology of the empirical research is described. Findings are then presented and subsequently discussed. Finally, suggestions are made as to how the Japanese might best make use of foreign HRM policies to reform their own HRM practices and ultimately improve competitiveness. Research context As mentioned above, the Japanese HRM model has often been recognized as a key factor to the rise of the Japanese economy, particularly during the 1980s (see for example Inohara, 1990). However, the same Japanese HRM which until recently has been much celebrated in the West, and presented as a role-model to be learned from (see for example Vogel, 1979; Ouchi, 1981; Peters and Waterman, 1982; Bleicher, 1982; Hilb, 1985), is now increasingly viewed as outmoded, and necessitating substantial reform (Frenkel, 1994; Smith, 1997; Yoshimura and Anderson, 1997; Crawford, 1998; Horiuchi, 1998; Ornatowski, 1998; El Kahal, 2001; Pudelko, 2005, 2007). Others, however, continue to stress its inherent strengths and warn against significant change (Kono and Clegg, 2001; Ballon, 2002; Ballon, 2006). On the other hand, American understanding of HRM has traditionally been viewed by Japanese managers with skepticism. It is regarded as contradicting in many ways the broad concept of ‘respect for people’ (Kono and Clegg, 2001) and the aim of ‘human resource development’ (Ballon, 2002) that is ingrained into the Japanese management philosophy. In particular, the idea of defining the employees of a company as ‘resources’ (instead of members of the company ‘family’) that need to be managed (instead of ‘developed’) runs contrary to the key concepts of traditional Japanese HRM. However, in response to the deep crisis of the Japanese economy and management model, which has lasted for more than a decade now, it is clear that some shift toward Western management principles is taking place 4 5 (Frenkel, 1994; Ornatowski, 1998; El Kahal, 2001; Matanle, 2003). Thus, mirroring the economic growth patterns, adoption of Japanese HRM principles seems in the USA to be largely an issue of the past, whereas the question of adoption of American HRM policies is more current in Japan than ever. The key issue in Japan seems to be to find a new balance between the continuation of traditional (human resource) management principles and changes inspired largely by Western or more specifically American strategies. Regarding finally the specific German understanding of (human resource) management, it has to be concluded that this is a subject of no significant importance in Japanese business research, if it is considered at all (Pudelko, 2000a). Methodology Data collection and sample It may be noted from this brief review that existing literature in this field is in some respects inconclusive or somewhat contradictory. Nor has it generally been informed by empirical examination of HR managers’ own views on cross-national adoption processes. As this group might be expected to constitute the chief change agent, empirical insight appears in this context all the more important. Accordingly, this chapter provides data on the perceptions of HR managers from three different countries on the possibility of learning from each other. In this task, a quantitative approach seemed to be the most appropriate. The analysis is therefore based on empirical data which have been drawn together from an extensive survey (Pudelko, 2000a-c). The heads of HR departments from the 500 largest corporations of Japan – and for comparative reasons – the USA and Germany were selected as units of investigation. It was assumed that the heads of HR departments would have the highest degree of experience, knowledge and vision with regard to the issues being investigated, due to their senior positions within corporate hierarchies.